Real Madrid has become a real candidate for the title since the middle of the crisis.
On Wednesday night, they beat a strong Granada team 2-0 at Valdebebas to secure their fifth consecutive league victory and sixth rejection victory in all competitions.
Casemiro opened the scoring for the hosts before Karim Benzema doubled the lead late, tying Madrid on points with league leaders and city rivals Atletico Madrid. Los Blancos, however, played two games more.
👔 Zidane: “La primera parte ima sido complikaciju. En la segunda hemos estado mucho mejor. Me alegro por los jugadores.”#RealMadridGranada |. | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/VmUCkMK6Fn
– Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) December 23, 2020
Granada was the seventh to enter the game and fought quite a bit because they themselves were undefeated in five games.
“It was a tough match,” Zinedine Zidane said after the match in Marca’s comments. “It was a complex game. They came to press the ball.
“The first half was difficult, but the second was much better. I am happy for them because these games are not easy. We deserved the win thanks to the second half in which we played. ”
“We were much better in the second half, we pressed and recovered the balls, we won more duels. They complicated our lives in the first half. We won against a good team that came in after good results. ”
✅✅✅✅✅✅
Sum ¡Sumamos nuestra 6️⃣ª victoria consecutiva!#RealMadridGranada |. | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/rqX3qvPD48– Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) December 23, 2020
Eden Hazard’s return to the squad scored headlines before the game, but Zidane did not consider him capable enough to return to the field after a month of injury.
“I didn’t think it was appropriate for him to play,” he said. “It was a tough game and I didn’t want to risk it with Eden. It’s good, but we want to take it little by little. ”
Zidane was clear in his message to his players after the game. He was pleased with their work and wished them to go and rest over Christmas, but also eager to make sure they knew how hard work must continue upon return.
“We have to keep fighting the way we are,” he said. “Now I’m going to ask the players to rest and go with their family, but when they come back they have to work hard.”